Attaching clip for metal moldings



Aug. 24, 1937. w, R, WILEY 2,090,821

ATTACHING CLIP FOR METAL MOLDINGS,

Filed Nov. 1, 1935 INVENTOR.

BY gum 37374;"(3

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 24, 19.37

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHING our Fon METAL MoLDINGs William R.Wiley, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 1, 1935, serial No. 47,878

8 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to clips for attaching metal molding strips toplain sheet or panel surfaces such as the metallic body, hood or similarportion of a motor vehicle, and has for its ob,

ject an improved deformable piece, preferably stamped from sheet metal,which when positioned in the manner to be described relatively to thetwo parts whose union is to be effected, effects a permanent anchoragevof the molding 10 strip upon the panel piece. The construction oered isnot only capable of cheap and rapid fabrication in quantities, but also.lends itself to rapid installation in its intended position, and topermanent tenure of the parts in their desired relation.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view from beneath, that lis from the under side ofthe supporting panel and looking at the under side of the molding piece,

of one of my clip pieces in position with respect thereto, its initialposition being indicated in full lines and its other or clinchingposition in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is an end sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 and lookin-g in the direction of the arrows there shown.

| Figure 3 is a side elevation partly broken away taken along the line3-3 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown,show- 3() ing the clip in its deformed or finally clinching position.

Figure 4 is a plan view from above of one of the clips disassociatedfrom other parts.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of one of the clips similarlydisassociated from the other parts.

Figure 6 is a view of the clip, panel and molding piece taken from thesame position as Figure 1, showing the method of initially inserting the40 clip through the apertured panel and between the webs of the molding,and of its clinching position which results from a ninety degree turningof its body about one end as a center from its inserting position.

Figure 'l is a side elevational view similar to -Figure 3, but showingthe clip in its lturned position just described as Figure 6, but beforeit has been deformed into the contour shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a panel sheet, showing thepossibility of employing a pair of suitably-spaced holes instead of asingle slot for the locking engagement of the end portions of the clip.

A indicates a panel of sheet metal such as is used for the hoods'orradiator shells of motor vehicles, and B indicates a frequently usedform of molding provided with inturncd anges C. The web of the panel Ais pierced at spaced selected positions with slots D. r 5

The clips E consist of stampings of sheet metal, suitably bent foreffecting their initial positioning relatively to the supporting paneland molding' strip. What may be described as the right hand end of theclip as viewed in the several figures l0 consists of a tongue E providedwith lateral ears or projections E2; next to it toward the left is apreferably slightly curved or dished portion E3 which leads to theshouldered portion E4 which is broader than the dished portion E3,indeed of l5 about the same breadth as the spread of the tongues or earsE. At the left hand edge of this broader part E3 the clip is sharplybent to practically right-angular form, as well as narrowed once more asat E5, and next Iadjacent thisfnar- 20 rowed portion is anotherbroadened or cruciform portion E6, beyond which at the left hand of theclip is an again narrowed tongue portion E".

The clip as thus contoured and finished in quantity is positionedthrough the slot D and the space between the molding ange edges C in aposition perpendicular to the lengthwise extent of the latter, so thatthe head portion with its projecting ears E lies within themolding-enclosed space in the position shown at ar in Figure 3d .6. Itis then swung to the left through a angle until it attains the positionshown in Figure 6 as position b'. Because of the sharply angular shapeof the clip as iinished,the tongue Erl then lies within one end of theslot D when the 3- head portion E is still rather loosely adjacent theother or right hand end of the slot D, but, as brought out in Figure 7,the Langled center portion of the clip is, in this position, appreciablyabove the plane of the panel A. Either pressure 40 or a mallet blow uponthe elbowed or center portion of the clip when in this position theneffects its deformation so that the tongue E? is forced under theadjacent or left hand end of the slot D, While the opposite end E' ofthe clip has its 45 laterally projecting ears similarly forced under themetal web A beyond the opposite end of the slot D. The degree to whicheither end can be projected under the metal webbing is, however, limitedby the shoulders formed by vthe broader 50 parts E4 and E6 respectively,on either side-of angled central portion, since these, being of greaterspread than the width of the slot D, ride along the adjacent undersurface of the' panel A, that is to say the surface opposite thatwhereon 55 the molding strip is positioned, in a way to accentuate theunder turning of the end portions E and Ez beneath the ends of the slotD and molding flanges C respectively to the degree il- 5 lustrated insomewhat exaggerated form in Figure 3, wherein the tongue Erl is shownso distinctly projected beyond the left hand of the slot D that it cannot thereafter escape therefrom, while the laterally projecting ears E'at the opposite end of the clip have similarly been forced intoclinchingengagement with the interior surfaces of the inturned flanges Con the molding piece B.

While not indispensable, it should be noted that the pronouncedindentation or concaving of the part E2 next adjacent the flangeengaging ears E imparts a strength to the web of the clip at that pointsuch that in cooperation with the more or less pivoting action of theshoulders E4 against the molding flanges C the tendency of the righthandtip of the clip piece adjacent the ears E2 to very definitely clinch themolding strip flanges C is accentuated. If, however, the gauge andhardness of the constituent metal of the clip be suitably chosen, thisreinforcement of the clip body at this point by the concavity E3 is notessential, the central feature of the invention being the retention ofthe central portion 0f the clip, that is the parts E4 on one side of thecentral angle and of the parts E5 and E6 on the other side of thecentral angle outside of the plane of the panel A, while the tipportions E' and EI l engage permanently underneath the ends of the slotB therein, the end portions E reaching through to engagement withtheedges of the flanges C on the molding, while the tip of the p0rtionE'I is merely clinched under the opposite end of the slot D with itssides, as brought out in Figure 6, still spaced from contact with the 0marginal edges of the anges C. The exact width of the tongue E'I is,however, immaterial, so long a's it be less than the space between themeeting edges of these flanges.

It will of course be obvious that since the central portion of the clipcomprising the parts E4, E5, and E are in the finished assembly at alltimes located,` outside of the plane of the supporting panel A, a pairof suitably spaced holes, for the engagement into one of them of theparts E', E2, and E3 and into the other of the tongue E", may beemployed instead of the continuous slot D hereinabove described. In suchcase under some circumstances the provision of the shoulder projectionE6 might be dispensed with, though in order to keep the tongue E2 fromreaching too far into its receiving aperture the retention of theshoulder E4 would seem advisable. It is not necessary that the holes beround, as shown at A or slightly elliptical as shown at A2, in Figure 8A(50 so long as they be so aligned and spaced that the end E and theshouldered part E? of the clip may flnd anchorage throughone of theholes,l while the tongue E" similarly engages through the companionhole.

What I claim is:

1. A deformable clip for effecting the attachment of a molding strip toa supporting panel, comprising a unitary sheet metal piece bent tolongitudinally angled contour, the tip portions 70 of the clip beingadapted to operatively engage the inner flanged surface portions of themolding strip and the inner surface of a selectively aperturedsupporting panel respectively, and intermediate shoulder portions onsaid clip on 75 eithcrside of its angularly bent middle portion adaptedto laterally engage the inner surface of the supporting panel to limitthe degree of possible projection of the body of the clip through theapertures respectively entered by its terminal portions and to maintainsaid central portion 5 of the clips middle portion in slightly spaced,parallel relation to the plane of the supporting panel along the innersurface thereof when the clip 'is driven to clinching position bypressureeffected flattening outV of its angled middle porl0 tion.

2. A sheet metal uclip for effecting the structural correlation of amolding strip and a supporting panel, the latter having selectivelyaligned' apertures, consisting of a unitary sheet` l5 metal stampinginitially of substantially rightangular contour, provided intermediateits end portions with spaced laterally projecting shoulders, and at oneend with a lengthwise extending tongue and at its other end withlaterally pro- 20 jecting ear portions, the tongue portion being adaptedto be forced, by straightening pressure upon the angled center portionof the clip, into engagement under one end of a slot in the supportingpanel, and the opposite end portion be- 25 ing similarly forced intoengagement, with its laterally projecting ear portions, against theinner surfaces of the inturned iiange portions of the molding strip, thedegree of possible projection of the recited end portions of the' clip30 through their respective panel' apertures being limited by theengagement of said shoulder portions against the adjacent outer surfaceof the supporting panel surrounding said apertures.`

3. A clip member for attaching a molding strip 35 tion, a slightlyconcaved attenuated portion, and 45 a terminal portion with laterallybranching ears, said last named portion and the first named tongueportion being adapted to be forced in opposite directions lengthwise ofthe molding strip and into clinching engagement with the inner 50 vsurfaces of the flanged portion of the molding strip and with the innersurface of the panel as a result of pressure applied to the angledcentral portion of the clip which tends to move the several partsthereof toward positions of sub- 55 stantial alignment, and saidshoulder portions serving, by their engagement against the adjacentsurface of thefapertured supporting panel,

to limit the degree of possible projection of said first-named tongueportion and of said terminal 50 portion through their respective panelapertures when a flattening force is applied to the initially angularcentral portion of the clip.

4. A sheet metal clip of initially angular contour from end to end,adapted to be positioned 55 at its ends through apertures in asupporting panel, with one end which is provided with laterallyextending ears extending also between the opposing edges of an inwardlyflanged molding strip held in registering position along the aperturedportion of the panel, parts of the intermediate portions of the clipsbody on either side of its central angularly bent portion being providedwith laterally projecting shoulders of greater spread than the width ofthe aperture in the panelwhereby these portions are prevented i frompassing therethrough, said clip as a whole being adapted to be deformedby pressure upon its central angled portion to cause its describedterminal portions to interlocking'ly engage their described adjacentmolding strip flange and panel portions respectively.

5. A sheet metal clip adapted for the structural integration of analignedly apertured` panel member and of a molding strip having inturnedflanges, consisting of an angularly bent stamping having a projectingtongue portion at one end and a pair of laterally projecting ears atitsother end, a pair of laterally projecting shoulder portions, onelocated on each side of the angularly bent and relatively attenuatedcenter portion of the clip, the body of the clip being adapted to bedeformed by pressure applied to its angular central portion ahnost intoplane alignment of its several parts, thereby forcing its terminaltongue portion into engagement under the panel metal at one end of theslot therein, and forcing its opposite end with the laterally projectingears into holding engagement with the interior surfaces of the angedportions of the molding strip adjacent their opposing edges.

6. A sheet metal clip for effecting the attachment of a molding strip toa selectively apertured supporting panel, comprising an initiallyangularly bent stamping having one terminal portion adapted to engagethrough an aperture in the supporting plate and against the remotesurface thereof, and its other end having a shouldered terminalportionadapted to engage` through the supporting panel and over theedges of the inturned flange portion of the molding strip, theintermediate portion of the clip being provided with laterally broadenedportions adapted to engage against the adjacent panel surfaces and tothus hold the central web portion of the clip against the adjacent sideof the supporting panel despite the intended clinching deformation ofthe clip by pressure applied to the angled intermediate portion thereof.

7. A formed clip of laminary material for effecting the positioning of amolding strip upon a supporting panel having spaced aperturescorresponding in position to the desired location of the molding stripthereon, said clip comprisingl an initially angularly bent stamping, oneof whose ends is adapted to engage through one of the holes in thesupporting panel and to be bent to position of substantial parallelismwith th plane of the latter by deforming pressure upon the initiallyangular central portion of the' clip, said clip being provided with aplurality of pairs :i` of laterally extending arms, one pair beinglocated on either side of the centrally bent portion and one pair beingin position to limit the degree of possible projection of thepanel-engaging end portion of the clip through its selected panel l0aperture, the other pair of arms, located in the opposite end of theclip from that last referred to, being adapted to be passed through an'adjacent aperture in the panel and moved to position of engagement withthe interior edge sur- 15 facesV of the inturned flanges of the moldingstrip, and to be forced into clinching engagement therewith by thedescribed deformation of the initially angular central portion of theclip,

which deformation results in a modification of the 20 initially angularside elevational contour` of the i clip toward a position of suchalignment with the plane of the supporting panel as the positioning ofthe several parts of the clip on opposite sides thereof makes possible.25

y8. A unitary stamping of initially angled sideelevational contouradjacent its center portion, provided with pairs of laterally projectingarms on either side of said angularly bent center portion, and aterminally located pair of arms adapt- 30 ed'to be passed through a holein a supporting panel and between the 'inturned flanges of ya moldingstrip positioned against the opposite face of the panel from. that towhich the clip4 is apwith the plane of the supporting panel, the de- 45gree of its possible projection through its chosen aperture in thesupporting panel being limited by the engagement of the second one ofthe pair of laterally projecting arms against the adjacent surfacethereof bounding such panel aperture. 5f.

WILLIAM R. WILEY. j

